Etymograph

English

eleemosynary

Eleemosynary comes from Medieval Latin eleēmosynārius ‘alms dispenser’, from Ancient Greek ἐλεήμων ‘merciful’, and ultimately from ἔλεος ‘mercy’.

  1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἔλεος‘mercy’
  2. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐλεέω‘to have pity on, take pity on, show mercy to’
  3. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐλεήμωνeleḗmōn‘merciful’
  4. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐλεημοσύνηeleēmosúnē‘alms’
  5. Late Latinc. 200–600 CEeleēmosyna‘alms’
  6. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500eleēmosynārius‘alms dispenser’
  7. Englishearliest quotation 1749eleemosynary

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἔλεος‘mercy’
  2. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐλεέω‘to have pity on, take pity on, show mercy to’
  3. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐλεήμωνeleḗmōn‘merciful’
  4. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐλεημοσύνηeleēmosúnē‘alms’
  5. Late Latinc. 200–600 CEeleēmosyna‘alms’
  6. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500eleēmosynārius‘alms dispenser’
  7. Englishearliest quotation 1749eleemosynary

Earliest quotation: 1749, Henry Fielding, London: A[ndrew] Millar: “An author ought to consider himself, not as a…”

Linked words

through Ancient Greek ἐλεήμων ‘merciful’

pantaloons, 3 more

through Late Latin eleēmosyna ‘alms’

alms, 2 more

Today it means

adj Relating to charity, alms, or almsgiving.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Ancient Greek ἔλεος / eleemosynary

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